rAVe: A paper-thin poster AND speaker

October 11, 2011 by guest author, rAVe Publications

Editor’s note: With speakers already very small (think tablets) there may be limited application for this in OOH and Digital OOH settings, but it is nonetheless pretty slick.

A poster showing a traditional loudspeaker that can play real music was launched this week by the designer http://www.finnmagee.com. The poster is one of the first HomeAV products to feature UK-based Warwick Audio Technologies’ Flat and Flexible Loudspeakers, which have been incorporated into the back of the poster.

Because they are as thin and lightweight as a sheet of paper, the speakers have enabled Finn to pull off a neat visual trick: his poster looks like a regular picture, but a cable leaving the image can be connected to any music player, allowing viewers to become listeners.

The poster forms part of Finn’s “Flat Life” series, which also includes a working desk lamp and alarm clock presented in poster form.

Warwick Audio Technologies was set up to commercialize the innovative loudspeakers which were first developed at the University of Warwick. At between 0.25 and 1mm thick, the speakers can be contoured to fit into almost any space and the company is currently developing commercial product ideas with a wide range of companies, including car manufacturers and conference equipment manufacturers.